Commodity bag



D. A. PERINO COMMODITY BAG Aug. 7, 1951 Filed 001;. 5, 1949 IN VEN TOR.

A Tree/V575.

Patented Aug. 7, 1951 COMMODITY BAG Dominic A. Perino, Milwaukee, Wis., assignor to Milprint, Inc., Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Delaware Application October 5, 1949, Serial N 0. 119,644

2 Claims.

The present invention relates generally to improvements in the art of manufacturing commodity bags, and relates more particularly to improvements in the construction and use of bags or pouches having re-usable closures.

A primary object of the invention is to provide an improved re-usable commodity receiving and transporting bag which is extremely simple and durable in construction and highly attractive in appearance, and which may moreover be merchandised at low cost.

For many years, it has been customary to produce commodity bags and pouches of relatively inexpensive sheet materials, such as transparent cellophane, Pliofilm and other plastics or the like which, although inexpensive, are readily fabricated into bags which are exceedingly durable and tear resistant. These bags and pouches have heretofore been put to a great many uses, especially in the packaging of diverse commodities for display and/or merchandising purposes; and due to the relatively inexpensive and durable qualities of these materials, the containers fabricated therefrom are readily adapted for such purposes and serve to effectively protect the packaged articles until after use thereof by the consumer. However, since these bags and/or pouches are usually intended primarily for protective purposes for specific commodities and, as such, are more-or-less permanently sealed after packaging, they are ordinarily destroyed or discarded by the consumer after removal of the packaged article or articles therefrom.

It is accordingly a more specific object of my present invention to provide an improved bag which may be readily fabricated of inexpensive sheet material, and which is nevertheless exceptionally sturdy and capable of repeated use for transporting diverse articles.

Another specific object of this invention is to provide an improved and highly useful commodity receiving and transporting bag-like receptacle having an extremely flexible transparent body of sheet material, and provided with a novel reinforced mouth adapted for ready opening and closing.

Another specific object of the invention is to provide an improved commodity bag adapted to be produced in large quantities at low cost from inexpensive sheets of cellulosic, rubber hydrochloride and other plastic materials, and having a commodity receiving opening or mouth adapted to facilitate filling of the bag.

Still another specific object of the present invention is to provide an improved marketing bag having an exceedingly flexible body and a relatively rigid filling mouth adapted to be quickly and easily opened and closed with the aid of drawstrings only.

An additional specific object of the present invention is to'provide a new and improved has which may be utilized for display and merchandising of diverse commodities and which may thereafter be re-used by the consumer for carrying other desired articles, novel closure means being provided for this purpose.

A further specific object of the [present invention is to provide an improved commodity bag comprising, a fiat tubular body of flexible sheet material having a closed bottom and an open mouth, a relatively rigid strip secured to the body and extending. along the mouth and provided with a series of transverse score lines, and means cooperable with the strip to cause folding thereof at the score lines to open and close the bag mouth.

These and other specific objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description.

A clear conception of the several features constituting the present improvement, and the mode of producing and of utilizing commodity bags embodying the invention, may be had by referring to the drawing accompanying and forming a part of this specification, wherein like reference characters designate the same or similar parts in the various views.

Fig. l is a plan view of one of the improved empty commodity bags;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one of the bags, showing the mouth in partially closed condition after insertion of the commodity;

Fig. 3 is a top view of the bag with the mouth partially closed;

Fig. 4 is another top view of the bag with the mouth in substantially closed condition; and

Fig. 5 is a top view similar to Fig. 3, but showing the invention applied to a gussetted type of bag.

While the invention has been shown and described herein as being specifically applied to a bag of a particular size and shape and produced of certain known materials, it is not my desire or intent to thereby unnecessarily restrict or limit the scope or utility of the improvement.

Referring to the drawing, the improved commodity receiving and transporting receptacle shown therein by way of illustration comprises, in general, a fiat tubular body It) formed from adjoining sheets of flexible material united along the side edges II and bottom edges I2 in a suitable manner, as by heat sealing or with the aid of adhesives, and having an open upper end or mouth 13; a relatively rigid band or strip l4 secured to the body l0 along the mouth l3 thereof, the strip [4 being provided with a series of transverse score lines 15 dividing the same into a plurality of similar adjoining rectangular sections l6, each having a medial aperture ll therein alined with a corresponding series of holes in the adjacent body wall; and means cooperable with the strip Hi to cause folding thereof at the 3 score lines to open and close the bag mouth l3 as will hereinafter more fully appear, said means comprising a pair of; draw strings I8, 19 interlaced with the openings l! of the successive sections or panels IS.

The bag body IE! may be fabricated in a known manner from transparent plastic sheet materials such as cellophane or Pliofilm, and if desired, this bag may be of the well-known gussetted type shown in Fig. 5 instead of the flat type illustrated in the other views. If the material utilized in producing the bags is'of the type which is sealable upon application of heat'and pressure, the seams ll, 12 may be formed by heat-sealing, otherwise the edges maybe sealed with the aid of adhesives; and for advertising or like purposes, the sidewalls of the body It may be provided with printed matter in. the usual manner. The upper strip'M' may be formed from any suitable relatively stiff material such as cardboard; and this 'strip may be. in the form of a continuous hand surrounding the mouth, or corresponding strips [:4 may be secured to each of the side walls of the body Ill alonga substantial portion of the mouth [3 as shown. To insure proper folding or creasing of the strip I along the successive score lines I 5' in alternate directions upon manipulation of the strings I8, IS, the score lines may be alternately imposed on the front and rear surfaces of the strip [4, or they may consist of alternate full and partial scoring. The strips I l may be secured to the side walls of the bag body ID in any suitable manner, as by adhesives or, staples; and these strips may also bear printed advertising indicia or thelike. The drawstrings l8, [9 are each of suilicient length to encircle the bag mouth [3 and to additionally protrude somewhat at opposite ends to permit the units to be packaged and shippedin fiat condition as Well asto facilitate grasping of the strings; and to further facilitatemanipulation of the closure means, the strings l8, 19 may be of different colors.

The operation of the improved commodity receiving and transporting bag is as follows: After the articles are placed within the bag body via the mouth {3, it is only necessary to grasp the opposite protruding ends of the respective draw strings l8, l9 and, pull the same'in opposite directions, thereby drawing the strings through the openings IT and. causing them to coact with the cost with the aid of automatic equipment, and the side Walls thereof may be printed or they may be perforated as is customary when utilized for certain fruits and vegetables; Afterloading of the bag and closing of the mouth with the aid of the draw strings, these draw strings l8, l9 may be conveniently used as a gripping device for carrying the bag; and the relatively rigid scored strip or strips. It. not only: serve as a reinforcement for the bag mouth [3, but also considerably facilitate opening and closing of the mouth and loading and emptying of the bag. As indicated hereinabove, the closure may be applied either to the fiat bags or to bags of the gussetted type with equal success, and comnfodity bags embodying the novel features have proven, commercially practical. v

It should be understood. that it is not desired or intended tolimit this invention to the. exact details of construction, or to the. precisemode of use, herein shown and described, for various modifications within the scope ofv the appended claims may occur to persons skilled. in the art to which this invention pertains; and it also contemplated that specific descriptive terms used herein be given the broadest possible interpretaticn consistent with the disclosure.

I claim: 7 e V 1'. A commodity receiving and transporting, bag comprising, a normally fiat tubularbody formed of corresponding sheetsofflexible plastic", like material seamed. along edge. portions; toprovide a closed bottom and an open mouth, a, pair. of relatively rigid. cardboard strips;v secured to opposite sides of said body and extending along the bag mouth but terminating shorti of'tlre bag? edge seams and provided with corresponding series of transverse score lines dividing. said strip, into a plurality of similar adjoining rectangular sections, each section being provided with a medial aperture, and a pair of draw strings in"- terlaced with the apertures of-saidsucces'site sec tions and manipulatable at opposite ends of said: strips to cause simultaneous folding ofisaid strips to thereby close the bagmou-th.

2. A' commodity receiving and transporting bag comprising, anormally flat tubularbody of flexible plastic-like sheet material having a closed bottom and an open mouth; a pair of relend panels It of the strips M to fold the strips along the score lines l5 asshown in Figs. 2, 3 and 5. As the strings l8, is are pulledwith greater force, the folding of the strips l4 continues with the successive sections or panels I6 thereofbeing brought closer together, as shown in Fig. 4, until adjoining sections 16 lie against each other, thus closing the bag mouth. To open the mouth l3,, it isv only necessary to release the pullgonlthe' respective strings, l8, l9 and thereafter insert fingers in the mouth and force the end sections, it of" the respective strips away from: each other in an obvious manner.

From the foregoing detailed description, it is believed apparent that my invention provides an improved commodity receiving and transporting bag Which, is simple and durable in construction and which, moreover possesses considerable utility. The improved bagsmay be utilized for displaying, and merchandising diverse commodities, such as apples, oranges, potatoes and numerous other items, in a novel and attractive manner and may thereafter be, used and re-used as a,

shopping bag or the, like. The. bag body 10 may be rapidly produced inllarge quantities and at low ativelY rigid strips secured to opposite sides of said body and extending along but terminating short of the ends of the bag mouth" andprovidedj with corresponding series of transverse score: lines, and a pair of. drawstringsgcooperable with said strips and manipulatabl'e at opposite ends thereof tocausefoljding of said strips at thescore;

lines to open and close the bag mouth.

' v DOMINICA. PERINO;

REFERENCES err-En The following references;- are of record in the file of: this patent:

UNITED=STATES 'EATENTS Number 'Name j Date 505,688 Wendell Sept. 26} 1893 1,096,537 Humphreys May 12,1914; 1,261,846 Osgood Apr. 9,,1918 2,092,953 Gustafsonet al; Sept. 14,1193? FOREIGN: PATENT$ Number Country 7 Date- 270;197 Great Britain Mayr5., 1927 859,482 Erance June3', 1940" 2.093327 Switzerland Aug: 1,1940 

